Matt Purke, LHP, NationalsPurke was a lightning rod of a subject in the days leading up to the 2011 draft. Entering the spring as a potential first overall pick, Purke never looked right during the season, often struggling to get out of the mid- to upper 80s with his fastball. Purke even had a visit to Dr. James Andrews, who diagnosed him with bursitis, but no permanent damage. Purke’s performance, injury risk, and no reduction in bonus demands dropped him to the third round, where the aggressive Nationals scooped him up and finally got him to sign at the deadline for $2.75 million. Making his first start for the Scorpions on Friday, Purke faced eight batters and retired one while also walking one, hitting another, and giving up two doubles, a triple, and a home run. While he's been getting into the low-90s with his fastball, his command is all but nonexistent, his slider is flat, and his changeup isn’t deceptive. Rustiness and still not being 100 percent certainly are factors here, but at the same time, Purke doesn't seem any less risky of a player than he was in May.

He's pitching. As we've seen with Rendon, if there was ANY issue at all with his health, he would not be playing. As far as Im concerned, he is healthy, and that was the issue.

The fact that he is getting it up into the low 90's is also positive.

While I was hoping he'd dominate, I didn't expect much out of him here. Reality - the kid pitched a season and a half of college baseball. He's going to be at Hagerstown next year. He's pitching after a lot of time off and some re-working of his mechanics, and is all of a sudden thrown out against the best prospects in the game. Many on the bring of the big leagues. While I am disappointed he has pitched so poorly, I don't think there's any cause for concern. The talk about his pitches being flat and control being non existent pretty much state the obvious - He's rusty. Combine rust, getting back into shape(also remember, all these guys are coming off a season that ended a month or so ago, and Purke hasn't done anything in 3-4 months), and playing against guys with pro experience at least two levels above him, and it doesn't add up to a recipe for success.

Disappointing, sure, but I don't think there's any reason to be worried long term. And the reason we keep running him out there is to get some innings under his arm. Ideally he'll get better with each outing, and get some confidence back so he has something to build on come spring, but we'll see how that goes the rest of the season.

Im in favor of taking it slow with the kid at the start. Start him out in Hagerstown. If after 5 starts, he's killin it, move him to Potomac. I'd let him settle in at Potomac for a little while, but could see him finishing the year in Harrisburg if everything goes well.

As long as he's healthy, he'll be a fast riser. His combination of stuff and poise will get him to the bigs pretty quickly IMO.